The Believer-inspired by and sampled from John Legend and Common's "Believer"

The Following

The following
Is not random impulse
This is not a sporadic tangent of thoughts
This is the story of the struggling
The story
Starting in the media res of the fiend born child
Turned adult crack head

The following
Is proof
That life is not a destination
Truly living is a process
And I’ve processed why family matters to Steve Urkel
And why it is I only see the world in the color purple

So the following
Is proof of the struggle
I’m copyrighting my triumphs
So find your own misery or success

The following
Will be remembered

The following
Will be quoted
It will be remembered and honored in headline fashion
Never to be denoted to a footnote

The following
Will be history
Modern revolution, televised
Yes, the revolution will be televised

The following
Is demonstration
...

Final Exam

After Brittany Spaulding, after Joaquin Zihuatanejo, for John Parker

1. True or False

You fear for your children’s well being daily

2. Give one word to describe your role in the upbringing of at least ten of your children.

3. How often do you talk to at least nine of your children in a year?

a. When it’s convenient
b. Sometimes
c. Hardly ever
d. Never

4. True or False

You’re remorseful for all the hearts you have broken

5. In the space provided, explain how it feels to walk away from the eyes of an innocent child you assisted in creating.

6. What is the difference between a father and a dad?

7. What did you do to prevent my mother from leaving

a. Plead for forgiveness
b. Absolutely nothing
c. Go upstairs to your other woman
d. Go out and find multiple women
e. Hit her

8. In the space provided, please explain to your ...

The Believer-inspired by and sampled from John Legend and Common's "Believer"

"They will talk about us
like they talked about the kings, before us" (singing)
who protected peace
with historic pieces of war
they learned progress
comes out of the tunnel of a process
lack of distribution of processed goods
birth robin hoods,
and we just trying to ninja turtle
our sewer rats out of bad hoods,
understood?

"I believe in the light that shines,
and will never die.
Oh, I believe the fire (stretched out) burns
we stay alive" (singing)
we learn tricks and trades
to stay alive
trick others for treats that help us survive
then trade our faith in nature
for blessings in our father's time.
There seems to be no us, only mine
replacing footprints in the sand with a dividing line
only to realize, in the rust of time,
everything that glitters isn't shine.

©Paris “Chi” Butler, â�...